Guide · New for 2026
Book a free consultationSpeech that stays clear – without shutting out the world around you. That is the problem Oticon set out to solve with the new Reveal, the first hearing aid built around a Dual AI. We looked at what is actually behind it, how much of it shows up in everyday life, and what the device costs in the US.
At a glance
Why focusing on speech alone runs out of road
For a long time the hearing aid industry chased a single goal: make speech louder and everything else quieter. With every new chip generation, noise reduction got more aggressive. At first glance that seems obvious – if you struggle to understand people, you want voices, not the clatter of dishes in a restaurant.
More recent research paints a different picture. Your brain also needs the surroundings in order to make sense of sound: footsteps behind you, the hum of traffic, the acoustics of a room. When that information is missing, the brain has to fill in the gaps on its own. That takes concentration – and it is exactly this effort that leaves so many people worn out after a long day with hearing aids.
Oticon draws a different conclusion from this: better understanding does not come from maximum noise suppression, but from the right balance between speech and surroundings – and that balance point keeps shifting from one situation to the next.
The Dual AI: two systems, one job
Instead of one AI system that has to handle everything at once, the Reveal runs two separate AI systems in parallel and in real time. Oticon calls this the world’s first Dual AI in a hearing aid.
System 1
Speech AI
Recognizes voices and lifts them out of the mix – even when several people are talking at the same time. The goal is not volume, but clarity.
System 2
Context AI
Analyzes the surroundings and decides which sounds have to stay so the scene remains complete. Distractions are reduced, meaningful sounds are not.
Both systems were trained on millions of real sound situations and run in parallel all day – not alternately, and not tied to a program you have to select.
What this means for your brain
The difference is easiest to see side by side. It is not about more or less technology, but about which information actually reaches the brain.
When only speech counts
Noise reduction strips away more and more of the surroundings in order to push voices forward.
In the brain: acoustic detail is missing. The brain fills in the gaps itself, listening effort goes up, and by evening there is less energy left.
When balance counts
The Dual AI keeps speech and surroundings in the ratio that fits the moment.
In the brain: the sound picture stays complete. Following a conversation gets easier, listening feels more natural, and the effort goes down.
The four performance levels and their prices
As usual with Oticon, the Reveal comes in four levels. The style, the battery and the connectivity are identical across all of them – what differs is how finely the sound is processed and how many channels and automatic features are available. The more demanding your listening situations are, the more a higher level buys you.
| Level | Price | Positioning | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reveal 1 | $1,990 | Premium | Many changing, loud environments; highest demands on automation and personalization |
| Reveal 2 | $1,890 | Advanced | Regularly demanding situations – restaurants, meetings, events |
| Reveal 3 | $1,690 | Mid-Range | Familiar everyday life with occasional background noise |
| Reveal 4 | $1,499 | Basic | Quiet environments and a manageable circle of conversation partners |
For comparison: at traditional hearing clinics, devices of this class are typically priced well above this – largely because the price there also covers storefronts and in-person appointments.
Reveal Optimizer and the numbers behind it
Feedback control is new as well. The Reveal Optimizer does not wait for whistling to start; it recognizes the conditions that lead to it and steps in before you can hear anything. That creates room for more amplification without the device whistling – which matters most with open fittings, when you hug someone, or when you pull on a hat.
All figures are manufacturer claims from Oticon’s internal tech papers and research briefs (see sources). Independent test labs such as HearAdvisor had not yet rated the Reveal at the time of writing.
Connectivity: LE Audio, Auracast, Fast Pair
Oticon rebuilt the wireless platform for the Reveal from scratch – by their own account with the best range and connection stability in their portfolio so far. In practice that means music and calls go straight from your iPhone, iPad or Android device into both hearing aids, with hands-free calling and video meetings.
- Streaming comfort. One feature that did not exist in this form before: while you stream, the device automatically turns down the level of the surrounding noise – you do not have to switch anything.
- Auracast. A direct connection to audio systems in movie theaters, train stations or airports – and at home to newer TVs that support the standard.
- Google Fast Pair. Tap-to-pair with Android devices that support Bluetooth LE Audio. This requires Android 15 or newer.
- Telecoil. The Reveal works with induction loop systems.
Hands-free calling, and control from your phone or your watch. Images: Oticon
Battery and charging
The Reveal is rechargeable only – no battery doors, no zinc-air cells. Oticon quotes up to 20 hours of run time per charge. How far it actually gets you depends on your hearing loss, the active feature set and, above all, how much you stream.
- One hour of charging is good for roughly 16 more hours of listening.
- 15 minutes of charging gives you up to four hours – enough for an evening you did not plan for.
- Two charging options: the desktop charger for home and the portable SmartCharger with its own battery for the road.
The desktop charger on the left, the Reveal in everyday use on the right. Images: Oticon
Design and colors
On the outside, Oticon sticks with the proven miniRITE shape: light, compact, with a single push button for volume, program changes and answering calls. The housings carry an IP68 rating against dust and moisture.
The Reveal comes in nine shades, matched to hair and skin tones. At Migelino you can choose from Chroma Beige, Silver White, Silver, Chestnut Brown, Terracotta, Steel Grey, Diamond Black, Blue and Honey Beige.
The Oticon Companion app
You control the Reveal through the Oticon Companion app for iOS and Android. It is more than a volume slider:
- Adjust volume and sound discreetly, without reaching for your ear
- Find misplaced hearing aids with the built-in locator
- Connect directly to Auracast broadcasts
- Set reminders for when the wax filters are due for a change
- Get in touch with your hearing care professional – at Migelino, the basis for remote fine-tuning
Who the Reveal is right for
The Reveal plays to its strengths where things get acoustically busy and you still need the full picture: restaurants, family gatherings, open-plan offices, traffic. If you spend your day around people and know the feeling of being drained by listening, you are the target group.
If you mostly listen at home and in quiet company, you will hardly exhaust the difference between Reveal 1 and Reveal 4 – the lower level is the more sensible choice there. And if you already wear a well-fitted Oticon Intent, weigh it up honestly: the step up is real, but it is a generational step, not a different planet.
What matters in every case is the fitting. Even the best Dual AI does not replace a clean setup based on your audiogram – or a round of fine-tuning after the first few weeks of real-world use.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Oticon Reveal available in the US?
Oticon introduced the Reveal in August 2026 and released it to the trade. Migelino US ships from September 2026, and we are taking orders now.
What sets the Dual AI apart from the technology in the Oticon Intent?
The Intent works with a neural network that processes the entire sound picture, supported by 4D sensors that pick up movement and listening intent. The Reveal splits that job across two AI systems running in parallel – one for speech, one for context. Oticon measures a considerably stronger neural response in the brain as a result.
Is the Reveal also available with a replaceable battery?
At launch, Oticon offers the Reveal as a rechargeable miniRITE R. A version with a disposable battery has not been announced.
Does the Reveal work with my Android phone?
Yes. Direct streaming and hands-free calling run over Bluetooth LE Audio. The convenient tap-to-pair through Google Fast Pair requires Android 15 or newer. The Reveal also connects directly to iPhone and iPad.
How does fitting work without visiting a store?
Your devices arrive pre-programmed from your hearing test. Our hearing care professionals handle the fine-tuning remotely – as often as it takes. That service is included in the price for six years.
What if I cannot get along with the devices?
You have 45 days to return them. Send the devices back at no cost – no discussion, no charges. In most cases a round of fine-tuning solves the problem, so talk to us first.
Sources
- Oticon: Experience a richer world of sounds, Oticon Reveal product brochure, 302232UK / 2026.06.11.
- Oticon: Oticon Reveal – The world’s first hearing aid with a Dual AI.
- Oticon: Introducing Oticon Reveal, press release of August 12, 2026.
- HearingTracker: Oticon Reveal Launches With Dual AI.
- Brændgaard & Wassard (2026): Oticon Reveal AI – Technical features, Oticon Tech Paper. Denker (2026): Reveal Optimizer – Technical evidence, Oticon Research Brief. Zapata-Rodríguez et al. (2026): Oticon Reveal – Supporting the brain with an improved neural code, Oticon Research Brief.
- Research basis for the balance argument: De Hoz & McAlpine (2024); Hicks & McDermott (2024); Johnson & Healy (2024); McAlpine & De Hoz (2023).
All performance figures come from Oticon. Imagery: Oticon – individual shots may be AI-generated or retouched. Oticon, Reveal, BrainHearing and Companion are trademarks of Oticon A/S. Bluetooth and Auracast are trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. This article is not a substitute for professional hearing care advice.
